LAST SUNDAY at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the curtain came down on the first-ever South American Karate Championships, held under the auspices of world karate organisation, the International Karate Daigaku (IKD), through the Guyana Karate College.The tournament got under way the previous day at the same venue, where His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, who was earlier in the week presented with a 7th Degree Black Belt, graced the event with his presence.
In his remarks, President Ramotar pledged his government’s continued support to the development of Karate-do and to sport in general and to the development of the youths of Guyana.
Attending and officiating at the championships were top brass of the IKD including the Chairman and Chief Instructor Frank Woon-a-Tai, Vice Chairman and Deputy Chief Instructor Maureen Woon-a-Tai, Shihan Keith Da Costa and IKD Executive Treasurer Bernice Hughes a 6th Dan
The tournament, which saw the participation of Venezuela, Suriname and Guyana, was of a very high standard with competitors participating in individual kumite (fighting), kata (form), and the application of karate through team kata team bunkai, and team enbu.